Coastguard raged at liner captain, tape shows

[Blue_Tires]

ROME (Reuters) - The Italian coast guard angrily ordered the captain of the capsized Italian cruise ship to go back aboard to oversee the evacuation, but he stalled, according to an apparent recording of their radio exchange played on national television.

The audio recording, on newspaper Corriere della Sera's website and played on national state television, reflected the chaos and confusion in the minutes after the Costa Concordia, carrying more than 4,000 passengers and crew, hit a rock off the Tuscany coast on Friday night and keeled over.

Coast Guard: Tell me your name, please.

Captain: I am Captain Schettino, chief.

Coast Guard: Schettino?

Captain: Yes.

Coast Guard: Listen, Schettino. There are people trapped on board. Now, you go with your lifeboat. Under the bow of the ship, on the right side, there is a ladder. You climb on that ladder and go on board the ship. Go on board the ship and get back to me and tell me how many people are there. Is that clear. I am recording this conversation, Captain Schettino.

(Captain tries to speak but Coast Guard can't hear him clearly. Voices in the Coast Guard room.)

Coast Guard: Speak up! (captain tries to speak) Captain, put your hand over the microphone and speak in a louder voice!

Captain: At this moment the ship is listing.

Coast Guard: There are people who are coming down the ladder on the bow. Go back in the opposite direction, get back on the ship, and tell me how many people there are and what they have on board. Tell me if there are children, women and what type of help they need. And you tell me the number of each of these categories. Is that clear?

Listen Schettino, perhaps you have saved yourself from the sea but I will make you look very bad. I will make you pay for this. Dammit, go back on board!

(Noise can be heard in the background. Apparently other Coast Guard officers are shouting to each other in the same room about "the ship, the ship&quot

Captain: Please ...

http://news.yahoo.com/coast-guard-ordered-ship-captain-back-board-124134509.html

and another infamous incident where the captain left everyone to fend for themselves:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MTS_Oceanos

[Blue Owl]

1. The captain probably just finished reading "Decision Points" by GWB

Surely he learned a thing or two about leadership from the ex-president/decider that nobody mentions anymore.

[bullwinkle428]

2. I recall the story of the Oceanos. Both of these captains should be spending

the rest of their miserable lives behind bars!

[Wait Wut]

3. I feel for that Coast Guard "guy"

No description of rank, etc., but it sounds like he wanted to strangle that Captain. He's watching this ship sink with an unknown number of innocent lives and this turd is trying to sneak away.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Just listened to conversation on tv news here in the UK

Appalling.

[obamanut2012]

5. Trying to let alcohol burn off or a coward?

Or both?

[Broderick]

8. That was my first thought. Alcohol.

And of course a coward.

[Blue_Tires]

19. I'm almost surprised the captain didn't try to change

into civvie clothes and flash a fake passport or something...

[T S Justly]

6. The captain, the cruise line, the previously approving government officials, all corporate ...

Fuck-ups without a bloody fucking care in the world. The arrogance of criminal immunity ... it burns.

[redqueen]

9. The captain has been arrested.

For manslaughter and abandoning his ship, I think.

[Blue_Tires]

20. I still don't know why you have a $500 million ship

but you go bargain basement to find experienced, professional crews...

[LiberalFighter]

7. I'm glad that government employee is the Coast Guard officer.

[MicaelS]

10. I would like to shake the hand of Italian Coast Guard Captain Gregorio De Falco

He was the one who told Schettino to get his ass back about ship.

http://overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/17/10171694-exasperated-coast-guard-official-ordered-captain-to-go-aboard

[cbayer]

11. This is just unbelievable.

[Lance_Boyle]

12. 'Women and children first' is still in practice in 2012? n/t

What was the point of that exchange?

[MissB]

16. I think the point was pretty simple.

Probably to figure out how many needed help off the ship.

Women tend to stay with their children, which also makes sense.

[Blue_Tires]

18. No one says it, but "women and children" is also the generic catch-all term

including women with children, elderly, disabled, badly injured etc...

[tawadi]

13. That captain is a coward, just like one of the survivors said. eom

[pokerfan]

14. He's the anti Captain Sully

How could you live with yourself otherwise?

Having twice walked the length of the cabin to confirm that no one remained inside after the plane had been evacuated, Sullenberger was the last person to leave the aircraft.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Airways_Flight_1549#Evacuation

[duhneece]

17. What a contrast!

One, a real human being. The other....(I almost insulted rats then reptiles).

[MilesColtrane]

15. Vigliacco!